Insight Online – July 2025 | The Pharmacists' Defence Association

In this issue:

PDA concerned about ‘unsustainable record volumes of concerns’ received by the GPhC
120 years of empowering women in pharmacy
Is the government’s 10-Year Health Plan for England fit for the future?
PDA shortlisted at the C+D Awards 2025
Appeals process for candidates that sat the assessment in June 2025
PDA issues latest updates on Boots Pension Scheme complaints
Regional Committees hear directly from PDA members on workplace realities
Latest news
PDA Education launches 2025 Summer School
GFTU launches 2025-2026 education programme
Great savings on your summer essentials
Are your details up-to-date?

PDA concerned about ‘unsustainable record volumes of concerns’ received by the GPhC

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) will be meeting on Thursday 17 July 2025. One of the items that will be brought to the Council’s attention will be the record number of concerns it is receiving.According to the published papers ahead of the meeting, the Council will be informed that, “The volume of concerns received by the GPhC is unsustainable and wholly disproportionate to the number of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians that we register.”

The GPhC states that 93% of reported concerns are closed at the initial assessment stage with more than 60% of concerns originating from members of the public. This suggests that there is an issue around what is considered as being appropriate to report to a healthcare regulator.

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120 years of empowering women in pharmacy

The National Association of Women Pharmacists (NAWP) turns 120 this year. NAWP has a proud history of supporting women pharmacists and fighting for gender equality in the workplace.From 1 January 2020, NAWP began a new chapter as a network of the PDA. The PDA NAWP Network allows all women pharmacists to come together to proactively address and campaign around gender discrimination and its causes and consequences.

To celebrate 120 years of NAWP, the PDA highlights the network’s key achievements over the years and looks ahead at the next steps of the network.

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Is the government’s 10-Year Health Plan for England fit for the future?

The government’s long-awaited 10-Year Health Plan for England, ‘Fit for the future’, launched earlier this month. PDA Director of Pharmacy, Jay Badenhorst, discusses what this could mean for pharmacists and what next steps need to be taken.

Creating a Neighbourhood Health Service

Labour’s Plan includes the creation of 250–300 Neighbourhood Health Centres by 2035, with 40–50 to be delivered during this Parliament. These centres will act as multidisciplinary “one-stop shops” offering services like diagnostics, mental health support, and pharmacy-led care.

The total investment backing the Plan is £29–30 billion. However, the specific cost breakdown for neighbourhood centres hasn’t been published yet. There is mention of possible private investment in infrastructure, but this is also currently vague.

“The PDA would likely question whether the £30 billion overall NHS investment is sufficient when spread across all sectors, especially given inflationary pressures and existing deficits.”

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Also, see: PDA responds to the NHS 10 Year Plan

PDA shortlisted at the C+D Awards 2025

We are proud to announce that the PDA has been shortlisted in two categories at the 2025 Chemist & Druggist Awards: ‘Innovation of the year’ and ‘Health initiative of the year.’Our shortlisted entries about the “Medicines To…” campaign began with a powerful response to the war in Ukraine and have since grown into a global humanitarian initiative. From Medicines to Ukraine to Medicines to Gaza, Turkey, and Africa, this pharmacist-led movement has:

Delivered life-saving medicines to crisis zones using a needs-based “pull” model
Built a global network of pharmacy organisations collaborating across borders
Raised over £4.5 million through grassroots pharmacy engagement
Inspired the next generation of pharmacists through events like Pharmacists for Humanity
Tackled the environmental and logistical challenges of traditional medicine donations.

This campaign has not only showcased the clinical and logistical expertise of pharmacists but also demonstrated the role of the PDA, enabling the profession to lead in humanitarian crises.

We’re honoured to be recognised alongside so many inspiring initiatives and look forward to celebrating with our peers at the awards ceremony on 11 September 2025.

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Appeals process for candidates that sat the assessment in June 2025

The PDA would like to remind all candidates who sat the June 2025 assessment, and feel that they have grounds to appeal on receipt of their results, to review the GPhC guidance and gather all evidence before taking action.

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PDA issues latest updates on Boots Pension Scheme complaints

As part of the PDA’s latest updates, it is reminding members how to monitor progress with the complaint about the 2023 changes to the Boots Pension Scheme.

In 2023, the Boots Pension Scheme was ‘bought in’ with Legal & General. This means that the Trustee used the scheme assets to purchase an insurance contract which covers the benefits payable from the scheme. As part of the buy-in, the ability to take an unreduced pension at age 60 was removed from the scheme.

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Regional Committees hear directly from PDA members on workplace realities

The PDA Regional Committees are made up of pharmacists from across the profession who are elected to represent the PDA’s wider membership.There are four PDA Regional Committees:

Region 1 – Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man
Region 2 – Northern England
Region 3 – Wales, West England and the Channel Isles
Region 4 – Southeast England.

The committees meet to discuss current issues in pharmacy ahead of PDA National Executive Committee meetings. Here we highlight some of the concerns that were discussed at the third round of Regional Committee meetings in 2025.

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Below is a summary of some of the other key news stories that have been published on our website recently:

26/07/25 – Pharmacy students, become a PDA Student Rep!
25/07/25 – PDA welcomes commitment to create policy on disqualification powers where pharmacy owners fall short of standards
23/07/25 – PDA’s response to the RPS Position on facilitated self-selection of P medicines
18/07/25 – PDA responds to GPhC’s 6% fees increase for registrants
17/06/25 – PDA welcomes Supervision reform with cautious optimism
16/07/25 – PDA comments on resident doctors’ vote to strike
14/07/25 – Looking after our wellbeing
09/07/25 – PDA’s response to GPhC’s consultation on draft changes to registrant fees
08/07/25 – Rhona Bennett announcement
06/07/25 – PDA hosts ‘Pharmacists For Humanity’ event for future pharmacists
05/07/25 – Breaking barriers: Encouraging young women to lead in pharmacy
04/07/25 – PDA responds to the NHS 10 Year Plan
04/07/25 – Another Employment Tribunal win for an NHS pharmacist
01/07/25 – Former PDA BAME Network President awarded Churchill Fellowship

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PDA Education launches 2025 Summer School

As part of the PDA’s commitment to supporting members, the PDA Education Summer School is returning for a fourth consecutive year and will cover a range of key skills needed in the pharmacy sector. Members are invited to sign up for the free online courses and workshops.

Taking into consideration member feedback from previous years, PDA Education has developed this year’s summer school programme to include brand new workshops.

Introducing Leadership
12 August 2025, 7 – 8.30 pm

This webinar is aimed at students, trainees, and pharmacists in the first 5 years of being qualified who are interested in learning more about leadership. It will give attendees a taste of what is to come in the PDA’s upcoming Emerging Leaders Programme. The webinar will explore the need to understand what is meant by leadership and why it’s important to develop a good understanding at the start of a pharmacist’s career.
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Allyship
21 August 2025, 7 – 8.30 pm

This course aims to help members develop their skills as meaningful allies. This course will allow attendees to:

Explore power and privilege
Understand allyship and solidarity
Learn the background to the current context and why allyship and solidarity are needed
Learn strategies to use to intervene individually
Explore how, by working together as a collective, everyone can support each other and bring about change.

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The future of medicines: Emerging and future pharmacy practice
3 September 2025, 7 – 8.30 pm

This course aims to explore emerging trends and future developments in pharmacy.Pharmacy practice is evolving rapidly, driven by advancements in technology, changes in healthcare delivery, and expanding professional roles. This session will cover how pharmacists are taking on more clinical responsibilities, integrating digital health solutions, and adapting to new patient care models, now and in the future.
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Working safely and understanding your rights
16 September 2025, 7 – 8.30 pmThis session will explore a range of strategies to help attendees develop a proactive approach to looking after their health and safety. Attendees will have the opportunity to examine what an employer’s duties are towards employee pharmacists in relation to health and safety. The session will also include how members can use PDA collective structures to challenge, raise and resolve health and safety concerns.
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Digital conversations that count
22 September 2025, 7 – 8.30 pmThis online workshop will focus on exploring tools and strategies to help PDA Reps and active members to develop their effectiveness when communicating with members in an online world.

Although there are some challenges, there are also many opportunities that digital communication presents. Knowing more about what works well and what doesn’t will allow reps and active members to create effective digital communication tools that they can use with their members.
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Please visit the events section of our website for further information and to see a full list of our FREE member-exclusive training and events. The PDA will continue to support members throughout their careers.

GFTU launches 2025-2026 education programme

As part of the PDA’s affiliation with the General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU), members can access a range of online and face-to-face courses at low or no cost.

The GFTU has a new trade union education programme of online and residential courses that includes:

Strategy series
Activists’ corner
Women in Leadership
Bargaining and organising for neurodiversity
Roots of racism
And more!

These courses are nearly all *FREE for members from GFTU affiliates*. To view the full programme and register for a course, click here.

If you are interested in becoming a PDA Representative or undertaking rep training, please click here.

Great savings on your summer essentials

As a PDA member, you can take advantage of exclusive PDA Plus offers and discounts. From sunny days out to stylish wardrobe updates, we’re helping you stretch your summer spend. Get exclusive savings on top retailers with discounted gift cards – including Boots, IKEA, M&S and H&M. Whether it’s beauty, BBQs or beachwear, your summer essentials just got more affordable.

Upgrade your garden with IKEA
Get a 4.5% discount on IKEA Gift Cards. Save on all your sunny season essentials – from garden furniture to BBQ gear. Stock up, save more, and make summer stylish with IKEA.

Save on picture-perfect picnics
Members enjoy 6% off M&S Gift Cards – just in time for summer! Stock up on picnic treats, fresh food, and stylish serve-ware for less. Whether it’s park days or garden grazing, M&S has your picnic covered.

Save 4% on Boots Gift Cards
Save on your summer beauty and health essentials with Boots. Stock up on summer beauty, health essentials, and holiday must-haves for less.

Upgrade your summer wardrobe with 9% off with H&M
Save on the trendiest clothes, shoes, bags and accessories to suit every man and woman’s taste. Plus, you can make your money go further on sale items.

Are your details up-to-date?

We support the needs of individual pharmacists and pharmacy students and when necessary, defend their reputation. Therefore, it is crucial that we hold your correct details on file to ensure that you stay supported and do not miss out on important information relating to your membership.

Please take a few minutes to check and if necessary, update your details on our website. If you have more than one employer, please ensure you list each of them.

UPDATE YOUR DETAILS TODAY

Insight Online – July 2025